Web Essay: Rochester must note Mandela's words

5:33 PM,
Jan. 6, 2014

South African President Nelson Mandela, center, gestures during a press conference in 1997.

Written by

JO CUMMINGS
Guest Essayist

"Like slavery and apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings." - Nelson Mandela

It is urgent that we heed Daan Braveman's call to convene an anti-poverty commission to deal with the extreme concentration of poverty in Rochester and surrounding areas. Some ideas to consider are exploring ways to provide jobs for young adults such as YouthBuild USA, Americorps, Summer of Opportunity Program, supporting Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand's Urban Job's Act legislation, and raising the minimum wage.